TORONTO — With a growing number of global destinations reopening borders and loosening lockdown measures, so too are hotels and resorts in popular Sun destinations welcoming back international travellers.
Brands like Blue Diamond Resorts, Sandals, Club Med, Iberostar, Couples, The Excellence Collection and RIU have already announced reopening plans for select properties following months of temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, Andaz Mayakoba, Ocean Club Resorts, La Colección Resorts, Solmar Hotels & Resorts, and Velas Resorts can be added to the list. Riu Ocho Rios has also been added to RIU’s list of reopenings:
ANDAZ MAYAKOBA RESORT RIVIERA MAYA
Following reopening news the Quintana Roo Tourism Board, which represents 12 destinations in Mexico including Riviera Maya, Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya has resumed operations with reimagined experiences, including an expanded wellness program, new culinary offerings and nature activities.
New wellness offerings include aromatherapy sessions, spa workshops on how to make various spa products, reflexology and massages performed on the beach. There’s also a new Vegan Bar and expanded outdoor activities including guacamole making, tequila tasting, Mexican candy sampling, a nature trail bike tour and hammock making.
To ensure the safety and comfort of guests, the resort has updated its cleanliness procedures in line with Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment, which includes a dedicated Hygiene & Wellbeing Leader responsible for new operational guidance, increased frequency of cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants, enhanced food safety measures, hand sanitizer stations, moving check-in to the beach, and digitized restaurant menus.
For more information go to https://www.hyatt.com/info/global-care-and-cleanliness-commitment.
LA COLECCION RESORTS
La Colección Resorts began a gradual reopening on June 11 of resorts under the brands Live Aqua, Fiesta Americana, Grand Fiesta Americana and The Explorean. Reopenings are scheduled as follows:
– June 11
o Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach – All Inclusive
o Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun
o The Explorean Cozumel
o Fiesta Americana Cancun Villas
o Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancún All Inclusive
o Fiesta Americana Cozumel All Inclusive
o Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa
FA Puerto Vallarta
– June 15
o Live Aqua Private Residences Los Cabos
o Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos All Inclusive Golf & Spa
o Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive Adults Only
o The Explorean Kohunlich
– July 1
o Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende
o Fiesta Americana Acapulco Villas
The ‘Travel with Confidence’ program has been implemented across all 15 properties.
OCEAN CLUB RESORTS
Ocean Club Resorts’ two locations in Turks & Caicos – Ocean Club and Ocean Club West – will reopen on July 22 at a limited occupancy and with strict cleanliness and sanitization protocols. The resort is timed to coincide with the reopening of the Providenciales airport for international travel.
The following safety procedures, which have been identified by the Turks & Caicos Government and the World Health Organization, will be implemented:
- The modification of public spaces to allow for social distancing
- Face masks, hand sanitizer and COVID awareness/training will be provided to all guests and staff
- Cleaning products and protocols will meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines
- Increased frequency in the sanitization of all public spaces at both properties
For a full list of safety measures go to https://www.oceanclubresorts.com/coronavirus/.
RIU OCHO RIOS
Riu Ocho Rios has reopened its doors with maximum safety and hygiene assurances for guests and staff.
The opening of the Riu Ocho Rios is RIU’s second in the Caribbean, following the reopening of the Riu Cancun on June 8, and it joins a long list of openings around the world that the chain has already announced for coming weeks.
To carry out these openings, the chain spent weeks preparing a Post-COVID Manual for the hotel with 17 protocols with the consulting firm Preverisk. Application of these protocols requires specific training by departments of their staff members, who will be returning to work gradually.
The Riu Ocho Rios was fully renovated at the end of 2019 and, as a result, has totally refurbished facilities.
The opening of the Riu Ocho Rios took place on the same day, June 15, that Jamaica opened its borders.
RIU Hotels opened its first hotel in Jamaica in 2001 and now has six resorts with a total of 3,000 rooms. Two are located in Negril, three in Montego Bay and one in Ocho Rios. RIU’s plans for this year include renovation of the Riu Montego Bay, making it so all of its properties in country will be fully refurbished or of recent construction.
SOLMAR HOTELS & RESORTS
Solmar Hotels & Resorts has announced the reopening of three of its most popular resorts: Playa Grane Resort & Grand Spa, Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa, and Quinta del Sol. All three reopened its doors on June 15 following the opening of the Greg Norman Golf Course on June 16.
Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa
During its temporary closures due to the global pandemic, the hotelier worked with local authorities and international organizations to implement enhanced safety standards, the development of digital keys (launching in late summer) as well as four new experiences. These include: ‘Picnic Time & Bike Tour’ at Rancho San Lucas, which includes transportation, waiter service and picnic box lunch; ‘Bubbles & Champagne’, a luxury experience in Grand Solmar Land’s End; ‘Tortilla and Mezcal Class’, during which participants will sample four types of mezcal and attend a traditional tortilla-making class; and ‘Lottery & Tequila Shot’, which includes a complimentary shot of tequila upon entering a lottery for a margarita coupon.
Grand Solmar Land’s End_Don Luis Restaurant
New safety procedures include the following: staff training on infection prevention; sanitization of all luggage pieces before entering facilities; temperature measuring stations available for guests; mandatory use of sanitization solutions to spray inside all cars at valet parking; constant sanitization of public areas; daily sanitization of restaurants, bars and kitchens, and more. For a full list go to https://blog.solmar.com/solmar-hotels-resorts-releases-new-enhanced-cleaning-policies/.
VELAS RESORTS
Velas Resorts in Mexico reopened its doors to domestic and international travellers on June 15. These include Grand Velas in Los Cabos, Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit, Mar del Cabo in Baja California Sur, and Velas Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta. All facilities and amenities have opened in accordance with the resort’s ‘Stay Safe with Velas Program’, which includes touchless hand sanitizing dispensers, increased cleaning and sanitation using EPA-chemicals and UV light, and special COVID-19 training for staff.
For a full list of safety measures go to https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wRi2B2R7jelmgv2hB3Nqdrn7DE32f7BU/view.
For more updates from other hotels and resorts, go to https://www.travelweek.ca/uncategorized/coronavirus-updates-from-major-sun-destination-resort-brands/.
